Disney's Hercules: A Musical Disappointment
As a lifelong Disney fan and a lover of musical theater, I was excited to see the London production of Hercules, a musical adaptation of the beloved 1997 film. However, my enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment as I realized that this production lacked the heart and soul that made the original film so captivating. The show feels more like a British panto than a typical Disney Broadway performance, with rigid and one-dimensional character archetypes that fail to capture the essence of the original.
One of the biggest disappointments is the portrayal of Hades, the show's main villain. In the film, Hades was a nuanced and witty character, but in this production, he is reduced to a one-dimensional, over-the-top try-hard who literally calls himself the bad guy on multiple occasions. This ham-handed overwriting strips Hades of all his personality, making him a less interesting and less compelling villain. The same can be said for the other characters, who are all written like stock personas devoid of real interest, charisma, or authenticity.
The new songs and adjustments to the original melodies also fail to capture the magic of the original film. The songs are disjointed and lack the clever double entendres and witty lyrics that made the original songs so memorable. Instead, audiences are left with half-hearted rhyme schemes and modern slang that will age this musical like milk. Even with the changes, the original songs are still the strongest elements of the show, and the new songs don't even musically feel like they belong in the same echelon as the rest.
Another issue with the production is the sightlines. As someone who sees a lot of theater, I was frustrated to see actors waiting to enter the stage for minutes at a time, whether perched behind set pieces or waiting in the wings. This was a problem for the entire right half of the audience, and it was disheartening to see the show's lazy execution of set design and staging. The sightlines matter, and when they are poorly executed, it can take the audience out of the show.
Overall, Disney's Hercules is a loud and flashy production that lacks heart and substance. The writing sucks the soul out of the story, and the production values fail to capture the Disney magic that audiences expect. As a lifelong proponent of Disney musicals, I was heartbroken by this show. It's a disappointment that feels more like a British panto than a typical Disney Broadway performance, and I can't help but wonder if Disney had nothing to do with this production. The rating out of 7 is a mere 2, and I can't recommend this show to anyone looking for a Disney musical experience.
